Tag: NFL regular season week 11

Nick Foles on Colts HC Frank Reich: “He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much”

Nick Foles says he’s forever grateful for Colts HC Frank Reich, who changed his career in a big way while with the Eagles.

Not only will Sunday’s game mark the first for quarterback Nick Foles since his Week 1 collarbone injury but it will also mark the first time that he and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo will be up against one of their former bosses in Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich. With the three winning a Super Bowl together in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles, there is a great deal of respect between the three and Foles expressed that this week by praising Reich, who was his former offensive coordinator and obviously played a key part in his career.

“He’s a guy that I admire more than anything,” Foles said Wednesday. “He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much, and he’s going to be on the opposing sideline, so that’s going to be fun. […] I think it will be emotional seeing him because of what he means to me. He’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met, so when he went there I was so excited for him. But I’m going to go out there and play.”

When Eagles starting quarterback Carson Wentz went down in December of 2017 with a torn ACL in his left knee, nobody expected Foles to have the run that he did and lead the team to the playoffs. However, Reich (and DeFilippo) worked with the veteran to revitalize his career. Needless to say, Foles had the best year of his career, going 77-of-106 (72.6%) for 971 yards and six touchdowns in the postseason. He also ended up becoming the Super Bowl’s MVP as a result.

The Jags could have the edge going into Sunday’s game being that there is a lack of film on Foles. Then again, nobody knows Foles and DeFilippo as well as Reich does, so things could be rather interesting.

3 things to know for Jaguars vs. Colts

Two starting quarterbacks return to the lineup in a heated AFC South battle. Here are three things to know before kickoff on Sunday.

This Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Indianapolis to face off against the Colts in a heated, critical AFC South match-up. Both teams are hoping to make late-season pushes for the playoffs and remain in the hunt for a wild-card spot. Here are three things to know before kickoff on Sunday:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Healthy Quarterbacks

Both the Jaguars and Colts have been without their starting quarterbacks for some time after injuries sidelined the two, however, for Week 11, both Nick Foles and Jacoby Brissett are set to suit up. For Foles, this will be the first time since the first quarter of Week 1 that the high price free-agent acquisition will get to play.

The Jaguars benched the fan-favorite, Gardner Minshew, in favor of consistency and experience in hopes to spark a late season playoff run. The AFC wild-card race is very much wide open and Doug Marrone and his staff thought Foles gave the team the best chance to take advantage of the weaker AFC. This should be the first time Jags’ fans finally get to see what kind of player Foles really is.

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Doug Marrone praises Colts guard Quenton Nelson and discusses what makes him good

Doug Marrone knows a good offensive lineman when he sees one and praised Colts OG Quenton Nelson by calling him “one of the best” he’s seen.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the process of preparing for the Indianapolis Colts for a must-win game this Sunday. One of the stars they’ve likely been paying extra attention to is guard Quenton Nelson, who is one of the best players in the league. With that being the case, Jags coach Doug Marrone (a former offensive line coach himself) was asked about the second-year player and praised him by mentioning with two of his former offensive lineman in Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks.

“Probably. I’ve been fortunate, I’ve been around. When I was in New Orleans, I felt like I had the two best guards in the league with Jahri [Evans] and Carl Nicks,” said Marrone. “Very fortune to coach those guys. I think Quenton’s one of the best guards that I’ve seen throughout my whole time in the NFL. He’s an excellent football player.”

Afterward, Marrone went into the specifics of what makes Nelson elite, adding that he’s truly a student of the guard position.

“Strength, speed. Just finish-ability. Leverage, technique,” Marrone said about the traits in which make Nelson good. “I think if someone’s going to go draft a guard, and you’re a coach, and you want to go into management, you say, ’Hey, get me a guy like [Quenton].’ He’s an excellent, excellent, football player and he’s been an excellent football player from high school on up. From high school, went to Notre Dame, Harry [Hiestand] coached him at Notre Dame, he’s an NFL [offensive] line coach, he’s back in the NFL now. So technically, from that start, he’s been technically sound and he’s a master at what he does.”

Nelson has absolutely been a force of nature since entering the league and even during his time in Notre Dame. Some fans questioned Colts general manager Chris Ballard for taking him with the No. 6 selection of last year’s draft, however, he’s proven it was a smart move by earning Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro honors as a rookie. He also earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 74.3 last year and has drastically improved as a player this year by upping his grade to a current figure of 89.4.

On film, Nelson is the all-around type of lineman the Jags could use in the interior. He’s nasty as a run blocker and is technically sound as a pass protector. With Sunday’s game being one in which will be won in the trenches, the Jags’ defensive line could have their work cut out for them against the young ascending talent.

NFL rooting guide: Who Jaguars fans should root for Week 11

As the No. 10 seed in the playoff picture, the Jags need some help to make the postseason and a loss for the Steelers would be a huge help.

With it being Week 11, the NFL playoffs will be here before fans know it. Of course, at 4-5 the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the teams who are currently in the hunt, however, if they are to make the postseason they will need some help in addition to handling their own business. That said, here’s a recap on how the AFC playoff picture looks after Week 10 and a rooting guide on who Jags fans should watch on Week 11:

1. New England Patriots (8-1)
2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
3. Houston Texans (6-3)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
5. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)

7. Oakland Raiders (5-4)
8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4)
9. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)

Rooting guide

(Thursday Night Football) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns – root for the Browns

Hardly ever will you catch Jags fans rooting for the Steelers and they will especially have a reason to root against them this week. After starting 1-3 during the first quarter of the season, Pittsburgh has clawed their way back to a 5-4 record by winning their last four games and have found themselves with the last wild-card spot. Needless to say, the Jags would gladly take some help from the Browns, who aren’t in the playoff picture currently but could spoil things for their divisional rival.

Sunday, 1 p.m. games

Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens – root for the Ravens

The Texans are the AFC South’s divisional leader with a 6-3 record and it would take a miracle for the Jags to catch them because they own the tiebreaker over them. However, Sunday’s game against the Ravens is the start of a tough stretch for Houston as they also play the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts afterward. That said, a skid can begin here for them as the Ravens are playing solid football as the No. 2 seed.

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins – root for the Dolphins

The Jags have a rivalry with Buffalo (6-3) as it is, however, they will really have a reason to root against them Week 11 as the Bills have the first wild-card spot. That said, they would gladly take some help from their Florida rivals Sunday. With the Dolphins being a divisional rival of the Bills, this could be a close one as they are on a two-game win streak currently and have some momentum.

Sunday, 4 p.m. games

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders – root for the Bengals

The Raiders (5-4) are knocking on the door of getting a wild-card seed as they are the No. 7 ranked team in the playoff race. However, with the Bengals (0-9) being the league’s only winless team, Jags fans would unfortunately be asking for a lot here. Still, as we witnessed Week 10, upsets can happen and teams need to bring it week in and week out.

Jaguars vs. Colts: 3 causes for concern against Indianapolis

The Jags way be coming off their bye, but there are still some things to be concerned about as they take on the Colts.

Most fans would agree that it’s go time for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will enter Week 11 one game away from .500. Up next for them is their longtime divisional rivals in the Indianapolis Colts, who will be viewing things in the same light with them being on a two-game losing streak. It goes without saying the Colts and Jags know each other well enough to where fans on both ends are concerned heading into Sunday. Here are three concerns of our own as the Cardiac Cats travel up north to Lucas Oil Stadium:

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Foles showing rust 

Nick Foles will be taking back his starting position Sunday after being cleared to play from the broken collarbone he sustained Week 1. With the Jags having a 4-5 record, however, he’ll need to be instantly productive for the Jags Sunday, as the game is a must-win with the Colts (who are the No. 8 seed) being ahead of the Jags (No. 10 seed) in the wild-card race.

While the Colts aren’t quite what they used to be on offense, their passing defense is ninth in the league (223.2 YPG average) and their defense as a whole is ranked tenth in terms of total yards allowed (327.6 YPG average). Simply put, this could lead to struggles in the passing game for the Jags, especially for Foles who will be playing in his first game in months.

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Good, bad, and ugly as the Jags return from bye week

The Jags will get Nick Foles back after the bye week, but the question remains as to if he’ll be able to step in and have success right away.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t have a game this week but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to talk about.

As of now, the Jaguars currently sit in fourth place in the AFC South due to the Tennessee Titans’ victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jaguars will get the chance to improve on their standing in the division when they take on their AFC South rivals in the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 17 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

As the Jaguars prepare for their matchup, here are some good, bad and ugly tidbits as the exit their bye week.

The good: So you’re saying there’s a chance?

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If the Jags want to make a playoff push, they have the schedule to do it.

The Jaguars’ opponents have a combined record of 29-36, which is good for a .402 win percentage. The Jaguars have not lost to a team with a win percentage below .500 this year, going 4-0 in those specific meetings. The three teams who they will face after the bye week with losing records include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons.

This could be a prime opportunity to make a run for the postseason.

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